Abstract
The first task that faces the theoretician who wants to interpret the time evolution of a complex system is the construction of a model. In the actual system many features are likely to be important. Not all of them, however, should be included in the model. Only the few relevant features which are thought to play an essential role in the interpretation of the observed phenomena should be retained. Such simplified descriptions should not be criticized on the basis of their omissions and oversimplifications. The investigation of a simple model is often very helpful in developing the intuition necessary for the understanding of the behavior of complex real systems. In many-body physics, for instance, models such as the van der Waals model of a fluid, the Heisenberberg model of ferromagnetism, the mass and spring model of lattice vibrations, the Landau model of phase transitions, the Ising model of cooperative phenomena, to mention just a few, have played a major role. A simple model, if it captures the key elements of a complex system, may elicit highly relevant questions.
Published Version
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